U.S. patent number 4,852,468 [Application Number 07/174,875] was granted by the patent office on 1989-08-01 for work station with fume collecting means.
Invention is credited to Mickey Harris.
United States Patent |
4,852,468 |
Harris |
August 1, 1989 |
Work station with fume collecting means
Abstract
A ventilated work station for sculpting fingernails includes a
horizontal work platform supported at its opposite ends on
pedestals, one of said pedestals containing at least one drawer for
storing tools and supplies, and wherein the at least one drawer is
reversible in the pedestal to convert the work station from the
left-hand configuration to a right-hand configuration. A
transparent hood is supported on and covers a portion of the
platform and has low profile access slots in opposite sides thereof
for insertion of the hands of a nail technician and a customer.
That portion of the platform beneath the hood has slots
therethrough for conveying heavier than air fumes downwardly
through the platform, and the hood captures lighter than air fumes.
An exhaust fan is connected with ducts leading to the hood and
slots for producing a low pressure in the area confined by the hood
to convey collected fumes away from the work area.
Inventors: |
Harris; Mickey (Sumerduck,
VA) |
Family
ID: |
26870628 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/174,875 |
Filed: |
March 29, 1988 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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902770 |
Sep 2, 1986 |
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766016 |
Aug 15, 1985 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
454/56;
55/DIG.18; 132/73 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B08B
15/02 (20130101); B08B 15/026 (20130101); Y10S
55/18 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B08B
15/02 (20060101); B08B 15/00 (20060101); B08B
015/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;55/385A,385G,DIG.18
;98/115.1,115.3,115.4 ;132/73,73.5,73.6,75 ;312/223 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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660716 |
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Nov 1951 |
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GB |
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778321 |
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Jul 1957 |
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GB |
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Primary Examiner: Joyce; Harold
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Lambert; Dennis H.
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.
902,770, filed Sept. 2, 1986, now abandoned, and which is, in turn,
a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 766,016, filed Aug.
15, 1985, and now abandoned.
Claims
I claim:
1. A ventilated work station for sculpting fingernails,
comprising:
a flat, horizontal work platform supported at its opposite ends on
pedestals;
one of said pedestals containing at least one drawer for storing
tools and supplies;
ventilation slots formed in one end portion of said platform over a
work area thereof for conveying heavier than air fumes downwardly
through the platform;
a collector beneath said slots for collecting the fumes conveyed
downwardly therethrough;
a transparent ventilation hood supported on top of said platform
for confining to the area beneath the hood those fumes emitted
during a nail sculpting process performed in the work area, said
hood extending over and covering only that portion of the platform
defining the work area and having the slots therein, whereby a
portion of said platform remains free for placement of tools and
supplies used in a nail sculpting process, said hood having
opposite end walls with bottom edges thereof engaged on top of said
platform, and downwardly sloping top walls extending at bottom
edges thereof to closely spaced positions above the platform,
defining with said platform low profile access slots on opposite
sides of the platform through which a nail technician and a
customer, respectively, can insert their hands for sculpting
fingernails on the hands of the customer, the transparent sloping
top walls enabling the technician and customer to view the work
area and defining a collector for collecting lighter than air fumes
emitted during the nail sculpting process;
duct means connected to the collectors for conveying fumes away
from the work area; and
exhaust fan means connected with the duct means for producing a low
pressure in the work area beneath the hood for drawing away the
fumes collected during a nail sculpting process.
2. A ventilated work station as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
a light fixture is supported beneath said hood for lighting the
work area.
3. A ventilated work station as claimed in claim 2, wherein:
said at least one drawer is reversible in said pedestal for
converting the work station from a left-hand configuration to a
right-hand configuration.
4. A ventilated work station as claimed in claim 3, wherein:
the bottom edges of the side walls of said hood are engaged in
slots formed in the top of the platform.
5. A ventilated work station as claimed in claim 4, wherein:
the collector for collecting fumes flowing downwardly through the
slots in the platform is concealed in the platform.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to apparatus for removing toxic
fumes. More specifically, the invention relates to an apparatus for
use in sculpturing finger nails, wherein means is provided for
removing toxic fumes from the work area.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Various methods and devices exist in the prior art for repairing
broken finger nails, and/or for applying false or artificial nails.
One such method which has gained substantial popularity is the
application of acrylic materials to form a sculpted nail. In some
instances, these nails are produced for later application to the
fingers of a customer, but many beauty salons and shops
specializing in nail care construct the sculpted nails directly on
the fingers of a customer. The manufacture of such nails requires
the use of a number of toxic materials, including solvents and
hardeners and the like. In particular, such materials typically
contain ethyl methacrylate, which is a highly toxic material that
can cause hypotension, headaches, shortness of breath and nausea,
and can even lead to cardiac arrest.
Nail technicians typically work at a small table, with the customer
seated on one side and the technician seated on the other side. The
customer's fingernails are prepared with solvents and the sculpted
nail is then built up using acrylics. Multiple applications are
usually made, each followed by a drying period during which
volatile components evaporate into the atmosphere, and sanding to
shape the nail. During this process, cotton balls,tissues and other
tools become saturated with the chemicals. As a result, a
substantial quantity of toxic fumes are introduced into the
atmosphere surrounding the work table, leading to potentially
serious consequences for both the nail technician and the customer.
The problem is particularly acute for the technician, who often
performs nail sculpturing services for many customers during the
course of a day. In many shops which have multiple work stations,
toxic fumes can reach hazardous levels throughout the shop,
endangering all of the customers and employees in the shop.
In an effort to alleviate these problems, exhaust fans and/or hoods
have been provided in some prior art facilities to vent the toxic
fumes away from the work area. However, these devices typically
only reduce the amount of toxic fumes in the atmosphere and do not
eliminate them, since they are not constructed to substantially
enclose the work area and/or to remove both the heavy and light
components of the toxic fumes. In this regard, it should be noted
that materials used in the sculpting of nails include components
which are lighter than air and components which are heavier than
air. Consequently, a simple hood and exhaust fan will only draw
away the lighter components. Moreover, if the work area is not
enclosed, a substantial amount of fumes can escape the influence of
the exhaust fan.
Similar problems have been encountered in other professions, such
as in the fields of graphic arts, histopathology and manufacture of
ceramic objects. In PALMER, et al. (U.K. Pat. No. 778,321) an
apparatus is disclosed for removing the toxic dust and particles
resulting from the fettling of ceramic ware. In this apparatus,
work is performed on a mesh platform 12, through which dust and
particles fall into a drawer 11. Lighter dust particles are drawn
through exhaust 20, 22. The platform work area is enclosed on three
sides by a wall 16, the exhaust outlet 21 and a hood 17. The worker
gains access to the work through the open side of the apparatus.
There is no thought or suggestion of two persons having access to
the work platform from opposite sides, or of using exhaust fan
means to draw both heavy and light components of toxic fumes from
the work area, or of providing reversible drawers, lighting means,
etc.
The patent to GOLDMAN (U.S. Pat. No. 4,512,245) describes an
apparatus intended for use in histopathology or graphic arts, in
which a curved pipe 15 has an intake 60 on one end thereof disposed
closely above a work station for drawing lighter than air fumes.
Heavier than air fumes are exhausted downwardly through the work
platform itself. However, this patent fails to suggest the unique
combination of elements, including the hood with openings on
opposite sides for gaining access to the work platform by a
technician and a customer, or the light means, or the reversible
drawers, etc.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,359,060 to WALKER discloses an apparatus for
dispensing nail polish, in which pivoted brackets 31 and 33 are
mounted on a superstructure 12. The object of this patent is to
provide a means for enabling nail polish and remover to be
dispensed without spilling the polish and remover over rugs,
clothes or furniture. There is not any exhaust means or hood
disclosed as contemplated in the present invention, nor are there
reversible drawers, light means, etc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an
apparatus for venting toxic fumes from the work area during
sculpting of fingernails.
A more specific object is to provide an apparatus for collecting
and venting both heavier than air and lighter than air components
from a work area during sculpting of fingernails.
Another object is to provide a work station for sculpting
fingernails, in which a platform is provided for supporting the
hand(s) of the person whose nails are being sculpted, with vent
means in the platform for venting away heavier than air components
of toxic fumes emitted during the sculpting process, and in which a
hood substantially encloses the area above the platform for
exhausting the lighter than air components.
A further object of the invention is to provide a work station for
sculpting fingernails, wherein a work platform is supported on a
base or pedestals including stacked drawers which are reversible in
their pedestal to change the work station form a right-hand
configuration to a left-hand configuration.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a work station
for sculpting fingernails, in which a vented platform is provided
for supporting the hands of a person whose nails are being sculpted
and a vented hood is positioned over the platform for collecting
and venting both heavier than air and lighter than air toxic fumes
form the work area, respectively, the hood having low profile
elongate slots for access of the hands of the nail technician and
the customer during the sculpting process.
An even further object of the invention is to provide a work
station for sculpting nails, in which a transparent vented hood is
supported above a vented work platform, with low profile access
slots on opposite sides of the hood for enabling the nail
technician and the customer to place their hands over the work
platform from opposite sides of the hood.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a low maintenance
vented work station for sculpting nails, wherein toxic fumes are
vented away from the work area by an exhaust fan.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention are
achieved by the unique and simple apparatus discovered by
applicant, wherein a work platform is supported at its opposite
ends on pedestals. One of the pedestals comprises a stack of
drawers which are reversible in the pedestal to convert the work
station for use by either a left-hand person or a right-hand
person. The platform is vented for removing heavier than air fumes
emitted during the nail sculpting process. A transparent hood is
mounted on the platform above the work area, completely enclosing
the work area except for a low profile slot on each side through
which the hands of a customer and a nail technician may be inserted
for access to the work platform. The hood is ventilated for drawing
away lighter than air components emitted during the sculpting
process, and a light is positioned in the hood to provide light to
the work area. The exhaust means for venting the toxic fumes away
from the work area comprises a simple duct system and exhaust fan,
and does not include any filters or other equipment requiring
service or periodic replacement, thus rendering the apparatus
relatively maintenance free. The resulting work station is
exceptionally simple and inexpensive to manufacture and use, and
provides an environmentally safe means for performing nail
sculpting services.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing objects and advantages will become apparent from the
following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein
like reference characters designate like parts throughout the
several views, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the work station of the
invention;
FIG. 2 is a front view in elevation of the work station, showing
the drawer stack reversed from the configuration shown in FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the work station; and
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the work platform, showing the hood
removed for purposes of clarity.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring more particularly to the drawings, the work station is
indicated generally at 10 and comprises a flat, rectangularly
shaped work platform 11 supported at its opposite ends on pedestals
12 and 13. One of the pedestals contains a stack of drawers 14
which are reversible in the pedestal to convert the work station
from use by a left-hand person as shown in FIG. 1 to use by a
right-hand person as shown in FIG. 2. The drawers 14 are used for
storing supplies, tools, and the like for use in sculpting nails.
In addition, the work platform includes an end portion 15 which
remains unencumbered for holding various tools and materials used
during a nail sculpting process.
Slots 16 in the work platform communicate with a collector 17
concealed within the work platform, and the collector is connected
with an exhaust duct 18 joined to a T-connector 19 at the side of
the platform. The T-connector is intended to be joined to an
exhaust duct (not shown) leading to a suitable fan means (not
shown) for conveying heavier than air fumes downwardly through the
slots and outwardly through the ducts to a site away from the work
environment.
A transparent hood 20 is supported on the work platform and
includes opposite end walls 21 and 22, downwardly sloping top walls
23 and 24, and a collector 25. Duct 26 is connected with the
collector 25 and leads through an elbow 27 and duct 28 to the
T-connector 19, whereby lighter than air fumes are trapped under
the hood and are conveyed through the ducts by the exhaust fan and
away from the work area. As seen best in FIG. 4, the bottom edges
of the end walls 21 and 22 are received in slots 29 and 30 formed
in the top surface of the platform to stabilize the hood on the
platform and to ensure that the fumes are confined to the area
under the hood.
The bottom ends or edges of the top walls 23 and 24 are spaced
closely above the top of the platform to define low profile access
slots 35 and 36, through which the hands of a nail technician and a
customer can be extended to rest on the work area of the platform
above the slots.
The transparent panels of the hood can be made of any suitable
material, such as plastic or glass, and are joined at their mating
edges by suitable couplings, such as metal or plastic strips
37.
A light fixture, such as fluorescent light 40, is supported in the
hood at the top of the collector for providing adequate light to
the work area, and switches or controls 41 and 42 for operating the
light and/or the exhaust fan are mounted in the top of the platform
on opposite sides thereof for convenient access by the nail
technician from either side of the work station.
In use, a nail technician sits on one side of the platform and a
customer sits on the other side, with their hands inserted through
the access slots 35 and 36. The transparent hood enables both the
customer and the technician to readily view the work, and at the
same time substantially all of the toxic fumes emitted during the
sculpting process are captured by the hood and vented away from the
work area.
Although the invention has been described with reference to a
particular embodiment, it is to be understood that this embodiment
is merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the
invention. Numerous modifications may be made therein and other
arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention.
* * * * *